The ecological system of the world is upset! The world is coming to an end!
Saturday, a disastrous earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 hit Chile, followed by several aftershocks of magnitude 5.4 or greater, devastating much of the civilization and infrastructure in the country. The Chileans woke up on Sunday to more aftershocks a day after they were hit by one of the most powerful earthquakes. Large swaths of their cities and towns are left in ruins.
At the same time the earthquakes have raised alerts about tsunami warnings in various parts of the world, including Japan and Hawaii. The tsunami waves traveling across the Pacific Ocean also affected Mexico, New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga and Samoa. This came the day after an earthquake hit Japan with a magnitude of 7.3, which also triggered tsunami alerts.
Many nations, including the U.S., have experienced one of the snowiest winters this year. On the other part of the world, specifically in Egypt, a hailstorm hit the capital city, Cairo. The whole time I have lived there, I have never experienced any weather that relate to ice or snow. Strangely enough, the winter I decide to leave, hail fell in Egypt.
So what’s next?! Is the world really ending in 2012? All these signs might be tempting to lead you to such a belief. But those who are smart enough make it a responsiblity to let everyone else know the truth: 2012 is predicted to be a normal year like any other year.
Although people claim the Mayan calendar ends on Dec. 20, 2012, there is no indication that it will be the end of the world. The same way your calendar ended in Dec. 2009 and you had to start a new calendar for 2010; the Mayan calendar just start over after 2012.
The earthquake that hit Chile (pronounced “chee-lay” and not “chilly,” as many people mistakenly assume) was larger in magnitude than the one which hit Haiti in January, but did not kill as many people.
The Chile earthquake actually released 500 times more energy than the earthquake that hit Haiti, but Chile is much more advanced and developed than Haiti.
Most of the buildings in Chile are built to be earthquake-proof while Haiti has a weak building code and infrastructure. The center of the earthquake in Chile was much deeper into the ground, too.
So the world is not going to end in 2012 and disasters are not escalating. But should it make a difference in our lives if Dec. 20, 2012 is the last day?
I just wake up every morning and work hard and I give everything my best. I do not know if I am going to live tomorrow because I do not know when I am going to die.
People die every day though and as much as we can anticipate the death of someone sometimes, it is impossible to predict the exact time of someone’s death. Some people will die on Dec. 20, 2012, and everyone will say, “I knew it. I knew something going to happen.”
I go to bed every day with the peace of mind that if I die in my bed, I would die in peace knowing that I have tried my hardest that day and that there is nothing I regret.
So before I start thinking 2012 is the end of the world, I should think if tomorrow is going to be the end of my world. When the actual day of Dec. 20 comes, then we can all joke about it and worry for one day about what will we do. I am planning on not doing any work that day. My excuse will be, “I thought tomorrow would be the end of the world.”
Tell the people you love your feelings. Step up and follow your dreams. Go and travel around the world. Start writing your own book. Do not waste today and do not waste tomorrow.
Abdallah Abu Ghazaleh is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].